Celebrating Seoul’s Lantern Festival

Over the past two weeks, Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon stream has been illuminated by hundreds of paper lanterns every evening. I love a good paper lantern (there’s just something romantic about them, wouldn’t you agree?) so I was pretty excited when I heard about this event. By lanterns, I don’t mean the typical tealight lantern, I mean huge, ‘larger than life’ lanterns depicting an array of images and scenes.

Having started in 2009, the festival takes place every year in Seoul, with the theme changing each time.

This year’s theme was ” Lightened Hangang River where history flows” – the Han river is the main river which flows through the length of Korea and the festival focused on traditional Korean life by the riverside. Actually, the main theme was only a small aspect of the lanterns on display (there was a huge lantern of Mount Rushmore so… you tell me if you feel that fits within the theme!).

There were lanterns depicting almost every scene imaginable – from Korean history, to modern Korean pop culture, to famous sites around the World. Lanterns from neighboring countries were also on display at the festival bringing in quirky and different styles. I really enjoyed looking at the Japanese lanterns which were altogether unusual and eccentric, as you would probably expect from Japan.

The festival was free to enter, but if you wanted to get a little more “hands on” you could buy a small traditional lantern to personalise, and set into the water for a couple of thousand won.

The atmosphere surrounding the festival was wonderful; Street vendors selling everything from drinks and snacks, to illuminated head gear set up shop and lined the streets for the occasion, and it had a similar feel to attending say, a 4th July celebration in the US, or bonfire night in the UK. Even on week nights, the stream is packed with locals and tourists alike.

Japanese lantern on display at the Cheonggyecheon

The lantern festival reminded me of one thing that I truly love about Korea, and Seoul in particular – that is, that this type of event is not uncommon. There always seems to be some sort of festival or event taking place so you are never short of fun (and more importantly, free!) things to do.

I’ve been into Korean related for the past couple of months so finding this post on twitter was super amazing. can’t wait to read the others. I loved it. I see the lantern festival many times on kdramas, and it’s always looked super outstanding and gorgeous. it certainly does. so glad you had a great time!

Thanks for your kind words! It really was stunning. I think that it is one of those things that are difficult to capture the true beauty of on camera. I will be travelling all over Korea in the coming months so hopefully there will be some posts you like!
I really like your blog by the way. It is such a small world – my sister lives in Leicester just off Narborough Road so I was there a few months back to visit a Turkish restaurant with her!

Hey! My name is Melissa and I’m a full time Travel Blogger from the UK.
I believe in pushing the boundaries of solo female travel and my mission is to encourage other women to have the confidence do the same.